Automatic mail catching and delivering apparatus



M. AND A. T. BOOM.

AUTOMATIC MAIL CATCHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I4, I918.

1,329,576. Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- I 66v"? Z'fiopzn, I I B y M2720 1300 J TTORNEYS' M. AND A. T. 500M.

AUTOMATIC MAIL CATCHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY14,19I8.

1,329,576. Patented Feb. 3,1920.

3SHEETS-SHEEA 2.

I INVENTOR '/1Z &e 2"i T300771, 7 M12 70 500772 .M. AND A. T. BOOM.

AUTOMATIC MAIL CATCHING *AND'DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED my 14, l9l8.

1,329,576, i at med Feb. 3,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

WITNESSES INVENTOR- z'rzo 19%,

UNITED STATESIATENT OFFICE.

MINO BOOM AND ALBERT r. noon, on BLADEN, NEBRASKA? AUTOMATIC MAIL GATCHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 14, 1913. Serial No. 234,513.

and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of our invention is to provide an automatic mail catching and delivering apparatus, adapted more especially for use on rural routes and is so arranged that it does not require observation to insure its operation, after the various parts of the mechanism are once set.

Another object of the invention is to provide a catching and delivering apparatus for use on rural mail routes which includes a truck adapted to travel over the route and which is provided with receiving and delivering boxes arranged to cooperate with combined delivery and receiving boxes disposed at stations along the route.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the. following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

. Figure l is a side elevation showing apparatus complete, I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown the in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the clelivery box which is mounted on the truck, Fig. 4 is a front elevation ofth'e combined delivery and receiving box which is located at a station,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig. illustrating a portion of the operation when the truck-carried receiving box moves beneaththe stationary box, and .Fig. 6 is a detail sectlon of a portion of the truck-carried receiving box.

, In carrying out our invention we provide a truck 1v which as shown in'the drawings, includes the wheels. 2 which run over the tracks 3. The tracks 3 extend along the rural mail route and may be laid in any desired manner. One way of laying the tracks 3 consists in providing extra cross armsd on the poles 5, and supporting'the trackson these cross arms. I It is even conceivable that the tracks'3 may be dispensed with and the truck 1 be of such a design that it may simply'run on the ground. In this event, the receiving and delivering mechanism may be so arranged Patented Feb. 3, 1920;

with a certain latitude'of movement that the usual unevenness'of the ground may readily be compensated for. his not desired, however, to unduly emphasize this feature since as stated before, it is the present intention to provide the tracks?) upon which the truck 1 runs.

" Obviouslylthe truck 1 will be propelled by a suitable motor The truck is pivoted in the middle at 6 i11 order that it may more readily turn curves in the track. Located at the front of the truck is a mail receiving box 7. 4 A

The box 7 has lids 8 which are hinged at 9 and. have extending portions 10 beyond the hinges. These extending portions are arranged to be engaged by lid guides 11 on opposite sides of the track. 1

A common pivot 12 located beneath the track joins the lid guides 11 at the front. Thelid guides 11 bend downwardly at the rear and across beneath the track where they are supported in the normal position illus- 1 1. The latch barld is mounted in suitable guides wherein it is capable of sliding forwardly against the tension of a spring 15., The spring 15 is disposed in the regionof an abutment 16 which is adapted 'to be trated' in Fig. 1 by theend' 13 of a latchbar struck by the forward portion of the truck 1 in order to move the latch forwardly. Obviously a depending finger such as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, maybe employed to move the latch forwardly so as to disengage the rear end of. the lid guides. This function is accomplished only after the receiving box 7 has advanced to approxi-v inately the extremity of the lid guides lVhen this has occurred, the lids 8 will: have been moved to the vertical position illustrated' in Fig. 5. The function of the lid guides will then have been completed, and

being released through the agency of the a'bntment 16 and depending portion ofthe truck, drop down by swinging on the. pivot 12 and remain out of the way until they are reset.

The lids 8- are normally heldclosed on the receiving box 7 V by springs 17 which are disposed substantially as shown 1n Flg; 6. The lids are made to open by the guides 11 against the tension *ofthe springs 17 and when the lids are released by the guides, the springs cause the lids to close.

A combined delivery and receiving box 18 is fixedly mounted at each station. along the rural mail route, and this box as its name implies, is arranged to perform the coinbined' functions of first delivering outgoing mail from the station to the moving truck and then receivingincoming mail from the truck whichfis' intended for the station. The box18 has ahinged bottom 19 which is normally held up by a catch 20.

The catch 20 is pivoted. at 21 to a sllding trip plate 22. The trip plate slides in guides 23 on the rear wall-of the box 18. The plate 22 has a .pair of trips 24 which are pivoted at 25,and extend downwardly beyond the ,the trips 24 are engaged as just explained. the catch. 20 is moved rearwardly against the tension ofthe spring 26 and thus releases the bottom 19 which was formerly supported on the catch. 7 7 y In the initial art of the downward movementof the bottom 19,. the rear edge is temporarily caught onthe trips 24 as shown in Fig. As soon as the front edge of the movingbox 7 advances beneath the trips 24.

- they fly1 backwardlybeing impelled by the spring 26, thus releasing the bottom 19 which then drops down inside of the receivmg box 7 anddischarges whatever outgoing na il may have been deposited into the .boxlS. r

A lug 27 formed on the catch 20 occupies either of a pair ofholes 28 in the rear wall 55 of the box 18e A. spring; 29 attached beween the box 18 and .a lug 30 on the trip plate 22 iltendsto pull the plate upwardly. This "is prevented by the engagement of the lug 27 with the-lower hole 28 when the trip is s'et. Similarly, the accidental downward movement of the? trip plate to the setting position: is prevented by the engagement of the-lng 27 withthe upper hole28. The lunt 27., is. released from the lower hole simultaneously with the operation of the trips and catch and in the same operation, the spring 29 pulls the trip plate to the upper position where this portion of the mechanism remains inactive until it is manually reset.

Lids 31 pivoted on the box 18 and provided with extending portions 32, are arranged to be subsequently opened to recelve incoming mail. Springs 33 normally keep the lids closed. The bottom 19 is again automatically closed upon the opening of the lids 31, by a connection 34 between said lids :and the bottom;

Mounted on standards on the truck 1 is a delivery box 36 in which mail for the different stations along tlie route is placed. The standards have arms 37 which are intended to engage the extending portions 32 and open the lids 31 substantially in the same manner as the lids S of the box 7 are opened. The mail for the various stations is separated in the delivery box 36 by a plurality of platforrns38. The platforms are held spaced apart by legs 39 as shown in F 1g. 3. A rod 40 at the rear guides the platforms downwardly and to a rearward and inoperative position. For this purpose the rod includes a rounded bottom.

The lower platform 38 is supported by the nose of a pivoted trip; 41 at the front and by small lugs 42 at the back. In advancing portion at the toward the box 18 of the rural station, the trip 41 eventually strikes the rear edge of said. box which thus rocks in a clockwise d1rect1on on its pivot. The nose then moves from beneath the lowermostplatform 38 and releases it, whereupon the platform drops down. V

At the same time. the adjacent portion of the nose bears against the lower end of a pivoted detent 42 which is in normal disengagement with the next platform. However; uponsaid engagement of the trip with the detent. the nose of the detent'is made to move inwardly beneath the next platform I and temporarily support it so that it too will not drop down with the lowermost platform 38.

7 Upon swinging downwardly, the platform 38 readily disengages from the lugs 42 at the rear because there is but a short contacting portion between the two. Upon the continued advancement of the delivery box 36, the now free platform 38 is caught by a pair'of arms 43 at the front of the box 18 and is carried up into an inactive position at the rear of the delivery box. I The platform ishere supported by a catch 44 which 7 is mounted on a rod 45 from the box 36.

The position of one of the platforms is indicated in dotted lines inFig. 3.

detent and the trip 41 in the normal position indicated. A lid 47 on the, box 36 serves to keep out moisture and dirt.

l2?) 4 A spring 7 I 46 engages the detent42 and keeps both the V space between the third and fourth plat forms Wlll remain empty, and so on throughto serve. The stations along the route will.

be known either by name or number and there will be one Compartment between the platforms 38 for mail intended for these stations in succession. For instance, mail for station No. 1 will be placed below the lowermost platform and the one next following. .Mail for station No. 2 will be placed between the second and third platforms. If no mail is intended for'station No. 3, the

out the height of the truck-carried delivery box 36,. j

i The occupant of a station places outgoing mail into his box 18. Vhen the truck 1 reaches the station, the'receiving box 7 advances beneath the lid guides 11 whereupon the lids 8 are raised and the box 7 .moves under the box 18 with-the lids in the open position. The trip and catch mechanism is now operated so that the lid 19 is released inside of thebox 7 and the outgoing mail justmentioned is discharged into the receiving box 7.

This action having been completed, the

- arms 37 ride upon the portions 32 of-the lids 31 on the box 18 and cause these lids to open. The trip mechanism 4:1 and 4-2 of the box 36 is now operated so that the lowermost platform 33 is released. rThe mail intended for this station isthus discharged into the box 18. But before this discharging function occurs, the bottom 19 is first returned to the original closed position plate :22 is left in the uppermost position.

Consequently the front edge of the receiving box 7 cannot strike thevtrips 2st and thus the bottom 19 is not released. The lids31, however, are opened each time and if'no mail is intendedforvthe particular station, a platform below an empty space above simply drops down and is moved to the inactive posltion at the rear 1n the manner already fully explained.

It. is to be observed that in all of its.

actions the mechanism described herein is automatic. The device is intended to perform .its functions without the necessity of observation The delivery box 36 is loaded at the post office and the act of distributing'the mail is performed automatis cally throughout the length of the route.

"While the device is intended primarily for distributing mail in rural communities, the

same principles may be applied in other connections. I I

'While the construction and arrangen'ient of the device as herein described is that of gageable means adapted to displace the catch and temporarily hold the lid from droppin a traversing receiving box, lids normally closing said box, and means arranged to engage portions of said lids to raisethem an'dexpose the front edge of said box, enabling the engagement ofsaid edge with said engageable means to first release and temporarily hold the bottom lid, said lid subsequently dropping into the receiving box when the receiving box edge passes beyond said engageable means.

2. The combination in a mail handling device, of a delivery box, a hinged bottom for the box,means holding-the bottom closed and including a tripmember, a receiving box arranged to move beneath the delivery box, lids normally closing the receiving box, ineans including lid guides arranged to engage portions of said lids to' raise them be fore the receiving box moves beneath the delivery box, said trip member being in posi tion to be engaged by the then exposed edge of the receiving box to obtain the release of the hinged bottom, and means for drawing said holding n'leans andtrip'member out of the zone of movement of said box edge.

3. The combination in a mail handling device, of a stationary combined mail delivery and receiving box, a hinged bottom,

hingedlids for the top, a connection between the bottom and top lids, a traversing truck having a. lidded receiving box arranged to pass under the stationary box, a relatively fixed lid guide arranged to engage and open the lids of the receiving box, means normally holding the hinged bottom closed and arranged to release said bottom upon engagement therewith with the then exposed front edge of the rcceivingbox, means enga geable by the truck for-releasing the lid guide into an inactive position, meanscarried by the truck for engaging the stationary box top lids to open them and simultaneously close the bottom, and a delivery box-carried by said truck subsequently movmgover the then open receivmg box to d1scharge mail therein.

4. The combination in a mail handling device, of a stationary combined mail clelivery and receiving box, a hinged bottom, hinged lids for the top, a connection between the bottom and top lids, a traversing truck having a lidded receiving loox arranged to pass under the stationary box, a

' relatively fixed lid guide arranged to engage and o 3811 the lids oi-the receivin box means l a a normally holding the hinged bottom closed and arranged to release said bottom upon engagement therewith with the then exposed front edge of the receiving box, means engagea'ble by the truck for releasing the lid guide into an inactive position, means carried by the truck for engaging the stationary box top lids to open them and s1- ;multaneously close the bottom, a delivery box carried by said truck subsequently moving over the then open receiving box to discharge mail therein, and means embodied in said delivery box arranged to engage the open stationary receiving box, for releasing a quantity of mail fordischarge into said receiving box. f

5. The combination. in a mail handling device, of a stationary receiving box, lids normally closing the box, a traversing truck having a delivery box movable over a receiving box, means located in advance ot the delivery box for opening the lids, a plurality of platforms arrangedone above the other in the delivery box, means supporting the platformsin spaced relationship, and means carried'by the delivery box arranged to engage said receiving boxto release the lowermost platform for the discharge of the mail I supported thereon and to catch the platform above to prevent it from dropping.

'6. The combination in a mail handling device,'of a stationary receiving box, lids normally closing the box, a traversing delivery box arranged to move over the receiving box, meanslocated in advance of the delivery box for opening the lids, a plurality of platforms disposed in spaced relationship in the delivery box, a guide for said platforms, a rearwardly disposed catch, means including a' trip and a detent arranged to coact with the receiving box for releasing the lowermost platform and holding the next platform from dropping, and means located in front of the receiving box for subsequently transferring the released platform around the guide into contact with the catch.

- 7. The combination in a "mail handling device, of a traversing mail receiving box, a wheeled truck supporting the box and arranged to move'over a track, lids normally closing said box and provided with project ing portions, means including lid guides pivotally mounted beneath the track and arsupporting the bottom, a vertically slidable trip plate forming the mounting for the catch, pivoted trips carried-by said plate including a lower engageable portion and an upper portion arranged to move the catch from beneath the bottom, means holding ranged to engage said projecting portions v the trip plate in the set position, and means Y for drawing the trio slate u into an ino eratlve position upon the engagement oi? said trip and the release of Sa1Cl l10lCl111g IHGELIIS. V

9. A'mail handling apparatus including a stationary combined delivery and receiving box, a hinged bottom, a catch normally supporting the bottom, engageable trips adapted upon engagement to displace the catch and release the bottom, hinged lids for the top of the box, projected portions included in said lids arranged to be engaged to open the box, and a connectlon between sald lids and the hinged bottom to simultaneously draw the bottom to the closed position while the lids are moving to the open position.

10. A mail handling apparatus comprising astationary comb ned delivery and re-' ceiving box having a pair of openings in the rear wall, a hinged bottom for the box, a slidable trip plate, trips pivoted on said plate including portions extending below and above the pivots, a catch pivoted on the plate and arranged to support the bottom, means pressing the trips and catch into the active positions, said ,catch'including a portion in contact with the upper portions of said trips and being provided with a lug occupying the lower opening when the trip is set, and means arranged to draw the trip into an inoperative position to enable the lug to enter the upper opening.

catch is displaced upon operation of the trips. 3 7 MINO BOOM.

when the. V

ALBERT T. BOOM, 

